Walk-in bathtub



Oct. 2, 1951 A. E. FOWLER ET AL WALIK-IN-BATH TUB 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26. 1946 INVENTOR. ARTHUR E.FOWLER ALBERT DRgSLERJR 54 mr,

ATFDRNEYB Oct. 2, 1951 A. E. FOWLER ET AL WALK- IN-BATH TUB 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1946 INV; 101 ARTHUR E.FOWLER ALBERT DRESSLE RJR ATTU PN EYE Oct. 2, 1951 A. E. FOWLER ETAL 2,570,053

WALK-IN-BATH TUB Filed April 26, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

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ARTHUR E.

ALBERT 'DRESSLER,JR

ATI'URNEYB mmm Wm QM 2, 1951 A. E. FOWLER ET AL 2,570,053

WALK-IN-BATH TUB Filed April 26, 46 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TOR.

ARTHUR E. FOWLER ALBERT DRESSLER JR Oct. 2, 1951 A. E. FOWLER ET AL 2,570,053

WALK-IN-BATH TUB Filed April 26, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR.

ARTHUR E. FOWLER ALBERT DRESSLER,JR

ATTD RNIEYB Patented Oct. 2, 1951 UNITED STAEES PATENT OEFIQE WALK-EN BATHTUB Arthur E. Fowler and Albert Dressler, .112,

Elmira, N.

Application April 26, 1946, Serial No. 665,230

3 (Jlaims. (Cl. i-173) This invention relates to a walk-in bath tub which by means of a door permits the user to walk into the tub without having to enter the tub by stepping over the side thereof as is the usual manner of entering the present day bath tubs.

An object of the invention is to provide a bath tub that is leak proof that includes means for entering the tub and means associated therewith that will prevent the user of the tub to fill the tub with water or operate the means for entering the tub until all water has drained therefrom or the tub is empty.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tubthat will eliminate the hazards consistent with the entering or leaving of the tub in use at the present time.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is detailed sectional view of the control mechanism when the tub is empty before or after draining;

Figure 3 is a top plan view partly in section;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view with wall broken away; 1

Figure 5 is enlarged detailed view or the door;

Figure 6 is an end view with wall broken and tub partly in section;

Figure 7 is the same as Figure 2 when the tub is full of Water or being filled;

Figure 8 is a detailed sectional view of the overflow valve;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the plunger for locking the door handle;

Figure 10 is a perspective viewthereof;

Figure 11 is a side'view of the plunger assembly;

Figure 12 is a rear view thereof;

Figure 13'is a front view thereof;

Figure 14 is an elevational view of the drain valve;

Figure 15 is a topview thereof;

Figurelfi is a perspective view of the spacer for the plunger assembly;

Figure 17 is an elevational view of the handle latch arm;

Figure 18 is a front view looking in the direction of the arrows onthe line Iii-18 of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is an enlarged detailed view of the handle operating mechanism;

Figure 20 is same in open position;

Figure 21 is a sectional view on the line 2 |-2| of Figure 19;

Figure 2.2 is a perspective view of the plunger and handle latch arm;

Figure 23 is a sectional view of the handle shaft;

Figure 24 is a perspective view of the float and the rod attaching means therefor;

Figure 2-5 is a perspective view of aguide bracket for the valve stem and Figure 26 is a perspective view of the plunger.

Referring more in detail to the drawings the reference numeral 3% indicates the walls of a bathroom having a built in tub v'ilforniing an embodiment of the invention properly installed in position.

The tub 32 comprises the door 34 built into the side thereof and hinged thereto at 3% and the door is provided with a handle keeper 58 for reception of the handle 40 therein.

The handle is provided with mechanism which will prevent filling of the tub with water until the door is closed or opening of the door until all water therein has drained therefrom and the description of the various controls and the mechanism embodying such controls constitutes the essential elements of the invention.

Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 7 the tub 32 is provided with a float chamber or drain pipe 42 having threadably secured to the lower end thereof the drain valve seat M for the reception of the drain valve is having the square shaped stem it extending upwardly therefrom to mount the fioat 55 and be secured at its upper end to the valve operating bracket 5| and the cylindrical stem 52 extending downwardly therefrom on which is mounted the guide 543' which controls and guides the vertical movement of the float 5% and valve 46.

The float 50 has securedthereto on the upper end thereof the brackets 56 which are apertured to receive the U-shaped end 58 of the connecting rod tilwhich is pivotally connected at its upper end at 59 to the forked end SI of the lever 62 pivoted at 64 in the fulcrum 65 which is mounted on the bracket 68 secured at one end to the chamber 42- and at the other end to the plunger lock assembly 7! and a guide bracket 12 for the rod 60 is secured to the inner surface of the top of the chamber 42. The opposite forked end 14 of the lever 52 is pivoted at T6 to the depending link it, the lower end of which is pivoted at to the plunger lock plate 82 slidably mounted intermediately the guide flanges 84 formed on .the opposite marginal edges of the bracket 86 secured to the fioor or tub by fasteners 88 and a cover plate 98 is secured to the flanges 84 by fasteners 92. Engaging the lower ends of the flanges 84 and plate 90 is the spacer 94 which is secured to the bracket 88 by fasteners 98 and in Figure 16 the spacer 94 is shown having an inclined side as and the fasteners 90 secure the frame I88 to the bracket 86. Welded to the frame I is the bracket I82 which receives and guides the plunger I04 pivoted at its forked end I05 at I88, to the link I08 and at the other notched end I13 thereof is adapted to be received in the concave recess H8 in the bottom edge of the plunger lock plate 82. The opposite end of link I08 is pivoted at H2 to the handle latch arm II4 having the bearing end H6 for mounting in the housing II8 secured to the frame I00, and a stop I formed on the lower edge thereof. A square shaped opening I22 in the arm IE4 mounts the complementary shaped shaft I24 therein and the shaft is provided with a bearing surface I20 for mounting the shaft in the housing I I8 and tub 32. The handle 40 is secured to the center end of the shaft I24 by a fastener I21 and the, retaining plate I28 is mounted on the shaft and secured to the tub by fasteners I30 and a washer I32 is mounted on shaft I24 intermediate the handle and plate I728. The stop I20 on the arm I54 engages the latch I34 which is pivoted by pin I36 on the housing H8 and the lower end of the latch is .apertured at I31 to receive the bolt I33 havin the head I40 which engages the edge of the door 34 to lock it in closed position, a bracket I42 welded to the frame I80 supports the bolt and a compression spring I44 mounted on the bolt intermediate the latch I34 which engages the head I40 and bracket I42 urges the bolt into locked position and a stop pin I46 in the end of the bolt I38 limits the forward movement thereof. I The tub 32 is provided with an overflow pipe I48 which enters the tub at the conventional height and is secured in the cam faced rear plate I50 having'the arm I52 secured to the rear thereof and the cam faced front plate I54 securedto the front thereof by fasteners I50. The plate I54 being cut away at I58 to permit water to enter the overflow pipe I48.

J ournalled in the arm I52 and rear plate I50 and front plate I54 is the shaft I60 having the drain handle I62 secured to the forward end thereof by'a fastener E64 and a face plate I36 underlies the handle I82 and is secured to the tub by fasteners I68. Secured to the shaft I60 intermediate the arm I52 and rear plate I50 by means of the collar I10 is the drain handle locking cam I12 which engages the plunger I04 in the notched end I13 thereof at its cam end I14 and is secured to the bracket 5I bya fastener I15. The cam I12 engaging the plunger I04 on the closing of the drain handle'locks the door handleuntil drain handle is opened. 7

Thus there has been provided a tub having a door thereby permitting the user thereof to walk into the tub at floor level. The door is provided with a handle which cannot be operated while door is open or the drain valve closed for the filling of the tub with water with the door open. Upon closing of the door 34 the door operates Or pushes in the handle arm latch plunger or bolt I38 until the head I40 thereon engages the latch I34. At engagement of the head I40 with the latch I34 the latch is pivoted on the shaft l 3 rnoving;the; end of the latch I34 out of engagement with the stop I20 on the latch arm I I4. This action releases the handle latch mechanism. The handle 40 can then be moved from the position of Figure 20 to the position of Figure 19. Therefore upon locking the door with handle 40 drain valve handle I62 can be closed and tub filled with water. After water is run into tub float 50 in float chamber 42 operates plunger lock plate 82 and locks door handle until all water is run out of tub.

Reversely drain valve cannot be closed and tub filled with water until door is closed and door lockedwith handle. Valve handle can only be moved after released by closing of door and after water is in tub door handle will stay locked until all Water is run out of tub which releases plunger lock plate 82. Also handle locking mechanism is locked through plunger and drain locking cam I12. When door is locked and drain valve is closed, door handle will stay locked until drain valve is opened. After drain valve is opened door handle will stay looked through plunger lock plate 82 until water is run out of tub with door locked and tub filled with water, a solid tub is formed. After water is emptied out of tub, door handle is released and door can be opened.

The drain valve can only be closed; after door is closed and locked with door handle. If water is run into tub with door open tub cannot be filled as drain pipe is open. Drain pipe is to be made three to four inches in size to let water run out quickly.

Door handle cannot be moved until door is closed in place. After door is closed and door handle is in locking position and drain valve closed, the door handle is locked until drain valve handle is opened.

After door is closed and locked drain valve closed and water in tub, door handle has a double lock pivot through plunger I04 and cam I12 and second through plunger lock plate 82 which stays locked until all .water is run out of tub.

It is believed from the foregoing description, the operation and construction of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a walk-in-bath tub having a tub-like body provided with a drain opening and a door mount-L ed in the sides of the body, the improvement comprising manually operable means carried by the tub-like body and coacting, with the door for retaining the door in closed position, mechanism coactingwith said manually operable means to prevent-operation, ofsaid manuall operable means while water is being emptied from the tub. while the tub is being filled with water, and a float mounted in the drain of said tub-like body for controlling said mechainsm.

2. The invention as in claim 1 wherein a drain valve is provided for the drain opening in said tub-like body, and said float is mountedon. said valve and is controlled by the opening and C? ing of said valve.

3. In a walk-in-bath tub having an opening in the side thereof, a .door for closing saidopening and a drain opening. the improvement comprising a manually operable handle means mounted on said tub, and a keeperon said door.to. receive.

5 said handle to releasably retain said door in closed relation to said opening, a drain valve in said drain opening, a float carried by said valve, and linkage means connecting said float to said manually operable handle means to prevent oper- 5 ation of said manually operable handle means during. the emptying or filling of the tub with water.

ARTHUR E. FOWLER. ALBERT DRESSLER, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,956,087 Tracy Apr. 24, 1934 2,068,457 Kirkwood Jan 19, 1937 10 2,075,933 Friedlander Apr. 6, 1937 

